Puppy SOS! How do we handle this?

We just got a new Catahoula puppy and every opinion is different. How to crate train, how to house break, IF you should crate train etc. it’s so overwhelming. Breeder has been doing this for 30+ years and written 5 books on Catahoulas. Said to leave the crate in the room furthest away from your bedroom. I don’t understand how you’re supposed to hear them to let them out though? He’s only 2 months old, so he can’t hold it for more than 2 hours. I guess set an alarm? I’d rather take him out when he needs to and wakes up, not go by a clock. Maybe a baby monitor is in order. Lol. Hubby says use a puppy pad, but that seems counterintuitive and teaches him to go inside. And then like a PP said, what if he starts peeing on towels and rugs and shirts or whatever else is lying around? We’ve argued about methods more times than I can count, but I take care of him mostly since I’m a Stay-At-Home Mom so I’m just doing it my way. Lol!!!

I have a 7mos old puppy that is amazing NOW, but it was a ROUGH few weeks in the beginning. He whined and cried all night. I know my advice is not what ppl suggest but it worked for me. I slept on the floor with my hand in the crate for like 2 or 3wks. Lol. He was totally fine every night after I started doing that. Then one day I crawled back up to the bed and he didn’t complain. I also put a T-shirt in the crate with my scent, cover the crate with a blanket, and I spray lavender essential oil on the blanket before bed. The lavender seems to really relax him. Good luck!